Sparsholt Parish Plan

April 2012 Foreword

I am delighted to have been part of the process in which residents of Sparsholt and Westcot have attempted to describe a vision for the future of this thriving and historic parish.

It's fair to say that the initial debate about whether we actually needed a parish plan was a lively one. Initially, there was some suspicion that this was being foisted upon us by outsiders with ulterior motives. Was this a way of imposing more housing development? Was it part of a local or national government agenda to change, perhaps adversely, small communities like ours? As I sat and listened to the various points of view, it occurred to me that a parish plan could - and should - be exactly what we wanted it to be.

Key to deciding what a plan should look like was first to discover what we all wanted for the Parish. The response to our questionnaire was exceptional, and demonstrated the enthusiasm within our community for taking an active interest in the future of the Parish.

As Chairman of the steering group, my two key tasks have been firstly to resist the inclusion of all unsupported opinions (including my own) and, secondly, to lead a very dedicated and selfless group of people who have given up countless evenings sitting in the village hall and working out what to do next. And so we set to work. As you read the pages of this parish plan you will notice I hope that the Parish has not decided to do anything earth-shattering or momentous. There are results and action plans, and we have set out what we want and perhaps as importantly what we don't want. I think that the majority of Sparsholt and Westcot has been involved in some way or another and this perhaps has been the most important part of the whole process: helping to bring our community a little closer together and understand what we want to preserve at all costs and what we'd like to gently adjust.

Thank you for your participation, contribution or involvement, no matter how great or small. Sparsholt Parish is a wonderful place to live and this Parish Plan sets out for all to see how we'd like our community to develop.

Jorge Mendonça

Chairman Sparsholt Parish Plan Steering Group

2 Contents Page No.

How We Did It 4

Introduction to Sparsholt Parish 5

Village Assets and Social Amenities 8

Housing 13

Traffic and Transport 15

Environment and Countryside 17

Action Plan 20

What Happens Next? 22

Appendices 23

- Appendix A: Residents’ Views on Priorities for the Parish Plan - Appendix B: Attendance at Village Social Activities - Appendix C: Residents’ Wish List of Changes to the Star - Appendix D: Changes to Encourage Residents to Attend Church - Appendix E: Residents’ Views on Housing - Appendix F: Locations Where Roads Flood

Acknowledgements 28

3 How We Did It

The majority of residents who attended a meeting on 6th September 2010 supported the proposal that Sparsholt should develop a Parish Plan. A steering group of volunteers was formed to lead the development of the plan. The approach followed national guidelines that list a series of steps, which lead up to the publication of the Parish Plan. The guidelines are intended to save time and help communities benefit from the experiences of others.

Initial start-up tasks took place between October 2010 and February 2011. These included analysing information about residents' likes and dislikes gathered at the meeting on 6th September 2010; explaining the purpose and reasons for a Parish Plan to residents; holding a quiz night and a bingo night, where more residents were able to express their likes and dislikes; producing a project plan to guide preparation of the Parish Plan and identify the necessary resources.

The most important task was to seek the views of residents about a range of topics that collectively could help shape the future of the Parish. A consultation process took place from March to November 2011. It gave a very clear idea of the community’s needs and priorities. In April and May a questionnaire was developed and after a trial run, finalised for publication. Volunteers distributed the questionnaire and collected completed questionnaires in June and July. The response was exceptional with 121 of 127 households (93.5%) returning their questionnaire. Over the summer period, the steering group analysed information from 274 residents. In October and November follow-up sessions were held to clarify the outcome of some topics. This involved discussions amongst groups of residents in order to reach a consensus. See Appendix A for a list of Residents’ Priorities.

The final stage is publication of the Parish Plan. Preparations started in December with the final version completed in April 2012. The most important activity was to hold widespread consultation to obtain residents’ support for the plan.

Good communications are essential to any undertaking. The steering group made every effort to keep residents informed throughout the process. A total of five newsletters were published at key milestones and a dedicated website set up to publicise progress and preparation activities. The Sparsholt & Westcot Community website also carried regular news item to publicise the Parish Plan. http://www.sparsholtandwestcot.org/

4 Introduction to Sparsholt Parish

Sparsholt is a spring line downland village and civil parish approximately four miles west of Wantage. It included the hamlets of Westcot, Kingston Lisle and Fawler, until the creation of civil parishes in the late nineteenth century, which removed the latter two as one new civil parish. The Parish slopes northwards from the downs, nearly to the River Ock in the bottom of the Vale of White Horse.

The Great Western Railway and the (now disused) Berks & Wilts Canal cross the Parish towards the northern end. The nearest railway station was at Challow Station until 1964 and since, is Didcot Parkway. An old pack horse route from Lechlade to Goring known as Pack Lane also crosses the Parish. It was used mainly for the transportation of wool. To the south the Icknield Way, or Portway, crosses the Parish following the spring line; running parallel to it is the Ridgeway which follows the crest of the Downs. Both of these routes have been in use as long distance highways since prehistoric times.

The earliest record of Sparsholt is in the Saxon Chartulary of 963 as Spersholte. Sparsholt is also recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and in the 1156 Pipe Rolls of the County of Berkshire.The village layout remains, almost without exception, in the traditional Saxon style with dwellings positioned at the roadside. As a consequence you will not find cul-de-sacs or in depth infill developments. A number of the buildings here today can be traced back hundreds of years; some have seen many alterations including changes in the way they are used. Examples include the Who’d Have Thought It, which was another public house in Sparsholt; it closed in 1954 and is now a private residence. Some old agricultural buildings have been converted to houses as well. Other buildings, such as the Methodist Chapel and the shop next to it in Westcot Lane have disappeared and homes built Map of Sparsholt Parish in their place.

5 Agriculture has a significant place in the Parish, both past and present. The dozen farms (Broadleaze, Cross Bargain, Down Barn, Eastmanton, Georges Green, Home Farm, Northfield, Rectory, Redlands, South, Sparsholt, and Westcot) have over the years merged leaving eight in existence today. The farm workers who lived and worked throughout the Parish - by walking to Church, or their children walking to school, or simply walking to socialise with friends - created many of the public rights of way that we enjoy in the Parish today.

‘The view at the end of West Street’ by Georgia-May Bradley, aged 9

Sparsholt was for a long time a centre for racehorse training, even having a thatched stable yard, which unfortunately burnt down in the 1960s. In living memory there were three separate training yards within the village. The last trainer in the village moved to Newmarket in 2004. Today many horses and ponies live in and around the village, the difference being that not many of them are kept for commercial reasons. Their presence, however, does have its place in the local economy.

The Holy Rood Church dates from the end of the 12th Century and is said to have replaced a wooden Saxon church. The Church has seen parts rebuilt and extensions over the centuries, but retains its 8th Century stone font.

The Star Inn has been an important part of village life. The building dates back to 1730 and has seen a number of changes over the years, most recently in the early 1990s when the internal layout was changed to one bar from two small ones, and a few years later when the barn was turned into an accommodation block providing rooms for bed and breakfast.

6 The Griffin Memorial Hall opened in 1970 and continues to provide a versatile venue for village events. The building was erected in 1874 and was the village primary school until 1964. It had two classrooms and there was a connecting door through to the School House next door where the headmaster/mistress lived. After the school closed, Sparsholt was included in the catchment area for the primary school in Childrey. The catchment area secondary school is King Alfred’s in Wantage.

Following the closure of the Sparsholt Post Office & Stores in late 1980s, the nearest ‘village shop’ is in Childrey. The shop in Westcot closed earlier in the mid 1970s.

Wantage and further afield provides amenities, community and health services not available in the Parish. Gone are the days when we had our own District Nurse living in the District Nurse’s house in Westcot, but there are a number of current residents who remember seeking her help.

Table of Ages 2011

0-11 12-15 16-19 20-29 30-44 45-59 60-74 75+ 29 10 16 23 48 70 63 15

Table of Gender compared to 1911

Gender 2011 1911 Male 146 168 Female 128 167 Total 274 335

7 Village Assets and Social Amenities

Social Activities in the Village

A range of social activities is catered for in the village and in the questionnaire residents were asked which activities they support or would like to support. The most popular events are: a village fete, the gardens open day, the harvest supper and events associated with national celebrations (e.g. jubilee).

New ideas included a keep fit class, a book club, bridge club, village pub meals, dining in club, film/cinema club, tennis club.

Please see Appendix B

Action: The steering group to hand over results of the Parish Plan survey to the various groups that organise events at the Village Hall together with details of volunteers to help organise and run social events.

The Star

80% of those who completed the questionnaire said it was important that the Star remains open, but only 12% use it on a weekly basis with 66% seldom using it.

The recent high turnover of tenants has led to a significant drop in the number of residents visiting the Star. Punch Taverns’ decision to put the Star on the market prompted a lot of discussion in the village. From the questionnaire it became obvious that an overwhelming majority of people in the Parish felt it important that the Star remain open as pub. It was also clear that changes were necessary to encourage people to use the Star more often. Please see Appendix C for the list of residents’ preferences.

A working group explored various options, and concluded the preferred option to be private ownership by a landlord who is as passionate about the pub as the residents are. A full statement is available to view at:

http://www.sparsholtandwestcot.org/content/star-inn-statement-PPSG

8 Actions: The working group to make potential purchasers committed to making a success of the pub aware of local support. The working group to discuss the results of the Parish Plan consultation exercise with Punch Tavern’s Regional Manager. The working group to coordinate local opposition to any planning application to redevelop the site for residential use. The Parish Council to nominate the Star as a ‘vital community asset’ under the Localism Bill.

The Church

Sparsholt Church by Lily Ogden, aged 6 Sparsholt Church by Maisy Ogden, aged 6

The church is a beautiful and historic building that costs in the region of £10,000 per year, all of which has to be raised by the Parish. Substantial recent expenditure has included the full restoration of the stained glass windows on the south side of the church. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is waiting for the Quinquennial Survey which happens every five years, and which highlights any structural work that needs attention.

A further survey was conducted to understand what would encourage people to use their church more frequently. Findings included the following:

• Making the church more multi-functional - concerts etc

• More focus on families including family communion

• Make the church more bright and welcoming

• Refreshments after services

• Have a village choir/orchestra

• Forming a work party before the festivals both inside and outside the church

• The vicar being more of an obvious presence 9 The PCC is currently in an interregnum and is waiting to start interviewing prospective candidates, though it must be remembered that whoever takes on the role will have five other parishes plus the responsibility for King Alfred’s Academy.

Action: The Parochial Church Council will work hard to keep things running during the interregnum and is keen to act on the findings of the survey and will continue to do so when the new vicar has been appointed.

Children’s Play Area

33% of respondents wanted a children’s play area

A play area with swings and a sandpit existed up until the mid to late 1980s, in what was known as the “Donkey Meadow” at the end of West Street. It fell into disuse and the paddock was returned to the landowner, Lonsdale Estate.

In the light of the responses from the questionnaire, a small working group was set up to investigate the viability, practicality, sources of funding and location of a possible new play area in the Parish.

The group is continuing to look into possibilities and whether a play area is sustainable, especially with the demands of health and safety rules. It is not anticipated that this group will complete its findings before the Parish Plan is published.

Action: The working group to report on the outcome of their investigations to the Parish Council.

Village Hall Improvements

Only 2.4% of respondents thought that the Village Hall needed improvements.

The Hall is managed by the Griffin Hall Management Committee. Over the last few years there have been three phases of renovation and new building works - photos of these can be seen on display in the hall. The works were designed to ensure the building complied with all necessary regulations, met the needs of various users and provides a pleasant environment.

The new reception area, kitchen and toilets Griffin Hall by Alex Brown, aged 10 10 replaced the previous ones that had been added to the old school over the years - many years ago! The Hall now has modern facilities which include a disabled toilet and baby changing facilities.

Actions: The Griffin Hall Management Committee to encourage residents to make more use of the Hall and facilities.

Gas/Oil Purchase Scheme

58 out of 127 households are interested in joining a cooperative scheme to purchase bulk oil or propane at a lower price.

Analysis of questionnaires showed a high number of households interested in joining a fuel cooperative. Some are already members of schemes. The advantage of a cooperative is that most distributors quote a lower price on volume orders because it reduces delivery costs. What's more, that price is available to all cooperative members irrespective of the volume they order.

A group of residents recommended the Oxford Rural Community Council’s (ORCC) cooperative after examining several options. It has 470 members, including residents of Childrey and Sparsholt. Annual membership is £20. Childrey’s coordinator agreed to take on new members from Sparsholt Parish. Some residents have already joined and taken their first delivery of oil at a lower price. See examples in the Appendix of the indicative savings that could be made as a member of the ORCC cooperative.

Research established that oil cooperatives are the most popular. The main obstacle to forming an LPG cooperative is that consumers are required to sign a 2 year contract. Consequently, it is difficult to bring multiple contracts into line and to “shop around” for a competitive price during the contract period. Tank ownership is another complication. Whilst it is possible to switch distributors, this can be tricky when the distributor applies current regulations retrospectively.

Actions: The working group to publicise the ORCC bulk oil buying scheme to encourage interested residents to enrol. The working group to establish the viability of forming an LPG purchasing cooperative. The working group to monitor the effect of new members joining the ORCC scheme on the Childrey coordinator’s workload.

11 Switch to Broadband

47% of respondents wish to participate in a scheme to help get superfast broadband in the Parish.

Broadband is the means by which you can access your e-mail and the internet quickly. It sends and downloads information much quicker than the traditional methods. Superfast broadband is generally accepted to be a broadband service that operates at a much faster speed than the current service.

The Government announced plans to introduce superfast broadband across the country by 2015. In particular, it recognised superfast broadband as essential to supporting rural communities in the 21st Century. As part of this initiative, Oxfordshire was allocated £3.86m to begin improving broadband speeds in rural areas. To assist the County Council and indicate the strength of demand for superfast broadband, residents are being encouraged to complete an online survey, see link below. http://domino2.oxfordshire.gov.uk/forms/forms.nsf/frmOxonRuralDigitalInfraStudy?OpenForm .

Actions: The working group to publicise the OxOnline scheme to encourage interested residents to take part in the online survey. The working group to contact the Oxfordshire County Council Project Manager about participating in their superfast broadband deployment project.

Mobile Library Service

Although not mentioned in the questionnaire, Oxfordshire County Council’s South West Mobile Library visits Westcot bi-weekly, currently on a Tuesday at 1.50pm. For more details see www.oxfordshire.gov.uk or the Sparsholt and Westcot Community Site.

12 Housing

From the results, it was very clear that the majority of residents would not want:

· Any new houses outside of existing built up areas (71% against). · Developments of more than 5 properties (only 5% support). · Flats and apartments (only 6% support). · New buildings for business premises (only 10% support).

(Please see Appendix E for a full analysis of responses.)

More than half of the residents (53%) do not support the building of any new dwellings in the Parish. 35% of residents are prepared to consider new houses built between existing properties (infill) at appropriate places. This being subject to other criteria being met such as planning, drainage, access and the preservation or enhancement of the existing character or appearance of the area.

Other Survey Results

Residents were asked questions about types and size of housing, size of development and the conversion of existing farm buildings. The results showed that:

· 29% wished to see developments of single dwellings and 22% would consider a development of up to 5 properties (although existing guidelines limit developments to 2 dwellings). · 37% preferred that new dwellings be privately owned although there was some lesser support for shared ownership (20%) and social rented (14%). · A large majority of those prepared in principle to accept development favoured properties, both bungalows and houses, of up to 4 bedrooms; there was less support for properties of 5 bedrooms or more. · There was significant support (74%) for the conversion of farm buildings into homes · There was support (42%) for the conversion of existing farm buildings for business use.

13 Conclusion

The housing survey findings correlate with the overwhelmingly positive view of Sparsholt Parish as a small rural community set in a quiet and peaceful environment on the north side of the Berkshire Downs with the historic spring line village of Sparsholt, protected by a conservation area, at its heart. They also appear to demonstrate recognition that Sparsholt is a small parish (population circa 300) without a shop, a school or a playing field and with restricted public transport services. The Parish Plan housing policy set out below uses the evidence gathered in the survey, acknowledges the majority view that no further housing development should be accommodated in the Parish but also recognises that there may be opportunities that arise to accommodate some limited additional housing within the built-up limits of the Parish without causing material harm to the established character of the rural Parish.

Housing Policy

If any housing development is to take place in Sparsholt Parish, new houses will only be acceptable as infilling; that is, normally not more than one or two dwellings (maximum four bedrooms) filling a small gap between existing properties within the existing built-up area of Sparsholt Parish. Development for housing on any exceptional grounds outside or adjacent to the existing built-up area of the settlement will be opposed.

‘Sparsholt houses’ by Mathilda Leighton, aged 7

14 Traffic and Transport

Snow and Ice Clearance

75.2% of respondents thought that more needed to be done to clear the roads of snow.

Severe weather left the Parish snowbound for over a month in December 2010, not helped by the decreasing budget of the County Council. Ill prepared for such an event, many of the villagers found themselves struggling to get to work and get provisions. The Parish Council and a volunteer working group have devised a cold weather plan, securing salt supplies and writing an action plan, where each volunteer is responsible for a piece of road in the Parish. The County Council should salt and snow plough the B4507, but other routes will be left to the volunteers. Two of the local farms have volunteered their machinery to clear snow should the need arise, whilst most of the salting will be done by hand. The majority of salt supplies will be kept off the roadside, due to the limited supply and also the widespread theft of this commodity.

Actions: Groups of volunteers to salt/grit designated sections of road in frosty conditions. Lonsdale Estates and Tony Carter to clear roads leading to the B4507 and B4001. Groups of volunteers to salt/grit the roads afterwards to keep them clear.

Flooding of Roads

50% of respondents were concerned about flooding.

The floods of July 2007 hit the community hard with some houses suffering water damage. We must ensure that the drainage in the Parish could cope with another such event. Certain areas of the Parish have been identified for action, for example the B4507 between Partridge Way and the Sparsholt turn. This area regularly floods making it dangerous not only to the local community but to people passing through. See Appendix F for a list of locations where roads flood.

Since 2007 the Parish Council has been working with local landowners and householders to try and improve the drainage in and around the village. The County Council, having previously excavated the roadside drains, now want the adjacent landowners to maintain them. This poses difficulties when several landowners may be involved in one drainage run. Whilst most of the larger issues have been rectified, some areas are still a work in progress. A volunteer work party has already been in action clearing roadside grips and assessing what further remedial work is required.

15 Actions: Groups of volunteers to clear roadside grips and assess what further remedial work is required. The working group to identify additional teams to clear the brook and ditch in Watery Lane and at the end of West Street. The Parish Council to encourage landowners to clear the ditch at Golden Acre. The Parish Council to continue their efforts to resolve the situation at the junction of Churchway and Partridge Way. The Parish Council to continue working with landowners and householders to improve drainage in and around the village.

Speeding and Signage

35.6% of respondents would like to see more speeding controls on approaches to the villages.

A working group looked into concerns raised in the consultation process about speeding and road signage.

Whilst it is acknowledged that some people drive too fast for village conditions (i.e. not necessarily breaking the speed limit, but not being considerate towards children/horses/ walkers etc.), research has shown that the majority of people driving too fast in the Parish are local residents.

Therefore, it was considered that additional signage would be ineffective, and may detract from the appearance of the village. It was suggested that a local awareness initiative, as well as police enforcement of speed limits, may alleviate the problem.

It has also been suggested that the priority at the junction in the centre of Sparsholt, by the village green, be changed to result in the through route having priority. Currently drivers, despite a no through road sign, do not always realise Watery Lane is a no through road and vehicles then have difficulty turning round at the end.

Action: Parish Council to investigate the viability of changing priorities at the junction of Sparsholt Street and Broadbrook Lane.

Using the Bus Service

Reducing traffic by using local transport is not a real option in a rural community. Buses run daily through the village and whilst it is not supported well by the village it is an essential life line to some householders. To keep these essential routes we should try and use the service more often if at all possible.

For timetables see: www.sparsholtandwestcot.org/content/buses-serving-sparsholt- westcot

Action: Encourage residents to use the bus service more often

16 Environment and Countryside

Hedges, Verges and Rights of Way

57% of respondents think that hedges and verges are overgrown.

44% of respondents use Public Rights of Way on a regular basis (at least once a week).

Hedges and verges should enhance our rural and natural landscape but critically should not endanger pedestrians, riders (bike or horse) or drivers. Some maintenance is required to ensure that sight lines are not impaired, and to minimise risk from overhanging branches, dangerous trees, and encroachment (reduction of road width).

Two specific issues were raised within the survey results: the growth of ivy on trees and the presence of ragwort. Ivy can affect the growth of young trees as it is in direct competition for moisture and nutrients at the roots. It can also be very detrimental to the appearance of trees and hedges and needs annual attention. Ragwort is poisonous and fast growing; it is dangerous to horses and other domestic animals. Its presence in fields, paddocks and gardens in the area also needs active management in conjunction with removal from verges.

Actions: The working group to form groups of volunteers to assist with removal of ivy and ragwort, possibly in conjunction with others such as the footpath walkers and litter pickers. A group of volunteers to cut back the overgrown hedges in Eastmanton Lane and Westcot Lane. A group of volunteers to run ragwort awareness campaigns each summer.

Sparsholt Parish is well served by a network of footpaths and bridleways, which are clearly popular. Feedback indicates that the footpaths are generally felt to be in good condition although some trouble spots were identified which were mainly footpaths considered to be muddy, overgrown or have poorly maintained stiles. Specific comments received have been passed to the Parish Council. Dog mess was also identified as one of the problems. The definitive map of all the footpaths of the Parish can be downloaded from the County Council website.

The footpath-walking group to continue walking footpaths in the Parish to identify and, if necessary, report any problems. Details of this important and social activity are reported in the Childrey & Sparsholt newsletter.

Dog Fouling

In the questionnaire respondents were asked to comment on the social matters they felt to be a problem. By far the highest response (26.8%) was to the issue of dog fouling. The law states that it is the responsibility of the dog owner, or person in charge of the dog, to clear up after the dog. Failure to do so means you can be issued with a fixed penalty notice

17 (currently £80), or if the case goes to court a fine of up to £1000. There are currently notices posted in the village advising of this and reminders are periodically placed in the village Newsletter. The feasibility and desirability of dog litterbins would have to be debated.

Peace and Quiet However, noise from microlights that use an airfield at Challow Station was identified as one problem. The RAF helicopter flights also gave concern to some residents. Our survey

The Parish Council to periodically run dog fouling awareness and poster/leaflet campaigns to encourage more responsible dog ownership. showed that only 8% of villagers were concerned about the RAF day time flights and 24.4% were concerned about flights at night. The RAF has been asked, where possible, to try and avoid flying directly over the villages in the evenings.

The vast majority (95.6% of respondents) valued the peace and quiet of the environment.

18 Street Lights

81.6% of respondents do not want street lighting.

At present the Parish has no street lighting and the majority of questionnaire respondents did not feel that street lighting was something they wanted. This would agree with Oxfordshire Council for the Protection of Rural England policy to reduce lighting in order to reduce energy wastage and light pollution.

Village Appearance

In general it was felt that the appearance of the village was satisfactory and assisted by a number of residents who endeavour to mow and keep verges tidy alongside their properties whilst the Parish Council is responsible for the grass of the village greens in Sparsholt and the grass and hedges of the cemetary.

Respondents to the questionnaire did not feel (in any significant number) that litter was a problem within the Parish. The Parish participates in the annual litter ‘Spring Clean’ event.

There were a few comments about the condition of the present village signage but the vast majority did not feel the need for further signs.

The Parish is a Safe Place

91.2% of respondents felt the Parish to be a safe place.

Levels of crime remain fairly low in the Parish. However there was a higher level of crime reported than expected (over an undefined length of time) with 12% reporting they had been affected in some way. A successful Neighbourhood Watch scheme operated in the village for many years. More recently, reports from the Faringdon Neighbourhood Action Group are circulated to subscribers within the Parish. Regular updates of reported incidents are posted on the notice boards and on the Sparsholt & Westcot website, as are information bulletins from the Community Support Officers. It is also possible to link up to Countryside Watch and receive texts/e-mails as incidents occur in the area. Thames Valley Police are responsible for policing the Parish and for advice on crime prevention for your home. You can contact them by calling their non-emergency number (101).

Action: Police Community Support Officers to encourage residents to join the Neighbourhood Action Group and Countryside Watch.

19 Action Plan

Topic Action Item Review Village Social The steering group to hand over results of the Parish Plan Apr 2012 Activities survey to the various groups that organise events at the Village Hall together with details of volunteers to help organise and run social events. The Star The working group to make potential purchasers committed to On-going making a success of the pub aware of local support. The working group to discuss the results of the Parish Plan Dec 2011 consultation exercise with Punch Tavern’s Regional Manager. The working group to coordinate local opposition to any planning On-going application to redevelop the site for residential use. The Parish Council to nominate the Star as a ‘vital community When asset’ under the forthcoming Localism Bill. legislation enacted The Church The Parochial Church Council representative to draw up an Apr 2013 action plan once the new vicar is appointed. Children’s The working group to report on the outcome of their Sep 2012 Play Area investigations to the Parish Council. Village Hall The Griffin Hall Management Committee to encourage residents On-going to make more use of the Hall and facilities. The Griffin Hall Management Committee to provide a booking On-going service. Fuel The working group to publicise the ORCC bulk oil buying Dec 2011 Cooperative scheme to encourage interested residents to enrol. The working group to establish the viability of forming an LPG Sep 2012. purchasing cooperative. The working group to monitor the effect of new members joining Apr 2012 the ORCC scheme on the Childrey coordinator’s workload. onwards. Switch to The working group to publicise the OxOnline scheme to Apr 2012 Broadband encourage interested residents to take part in the online survey. onwards The working group to contact the Oxfordshire County Council Jun 2012 Project Manager about participating in their superfast broadband deployment project. Housing The working group to promote the agreed local housing policy Sep 2012 with the Vale of White Horse Development Policy Team and the Parish Council. Ice Clearance Groups of volunteers to salt/grit village designated sections of On-going road in frosty conditions. Snow Lonsdale Estates and Tony Carter to clear roads leading to the On-going Clearance B4507 and B4001. Groups of volunteers to salt/grit the roads afterwards to keep them clear. Road Groups of volunteers to clear roadside grips and assess what Jun 2012 Flooding further remedial work is required. The working group to identify additional teams to clear the brook Jun 2012 and ditch in Watery Lane and at the end of West Street. The Parish Council to encourage landowners to clear the ditch at Sep 2012 Golden Acre.

20 Topic Action Item Review The Parish Council to continue their efforts to resolve the On-going situation at the junction of Churchway and Partridge Way. The Parish Council to continue working with landowners and On-going householders to improve drainage in and around the village. Speed The Parish Council to investigate the viability of changing Dec 2012 Controls priorities at the junction of Sparsholt Street and Broadbrook Lane. Using the Bus The Parish Council to encourage residents to use the bus On-going Service service more regularly. Hedges, The working group to form groups of volunteers to assist with May 2012 Verges and removal of ivy and ragwort, possibly in conjunction with others Rights of Way such as the footpath walkers and litter pickers. A group of volunteers to cut back the overgrown hedges in Jun 2012 Eastmanton Lane and Westcot Lane. A group of volunteers to run ragwort awareness campaigns each Aug 2012 summer. The footpath-walking group to continue walking footpaths in the On-going Parish to identify and if necessary, report any problems. Details of this important and social activity are reported in the Childrey & Sparsholt newsletter. Dog Fouling The Parish Council to periodically run dog fouling awareness and On-going poster/leaflet campaigns to encourage more responsible dog ownership. Crime Police Community Support Officers to encourage residents to On-going Prevention join the Neighbourhood Action Group and Countryside Watch.

21 What Happens Next?

The final draft of this document was sent to the Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council for any comments they may have. These comments were considered and actioned where necessary. Of note was the suggestion that extreme weather events need more consideration and the Parish was encouraged to make use of the information at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/community-emergency-plans

The Parish Council formally adopted the final Parish Plan document at their meeting held on 4th April 2012. Following adoption the final version was printed. A copy was distributed to each household in the Parish, the Vale of White Horse District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Rural Community Council. An electronic copy was posted on the Sparsholt and Westcot Community Website.

The Parish Council by adopting the document will use the results to guide the Council’s decision making process for the duration of the 10 year plan. In addition to being guided by the Plan the Parish Council will invite the various working groups to report at the Annual Parish Meeting.

The last question in the questionnaire was “If it could be shown that any additional money was going towards funding only specific improvements in the Parish Plan, how much additional Council Tax might you be willing to pay per year?” resulted in a combined percentage of 51.6% being willing to pay and additional amount. The Parish Council will bear this in mind during budget meetings if specific funding is required.

No Nothing < £20 £21-£40 £41-£60 £61-£80 £81-£100 Opinion 35.40% 13.87% 8.39% 10.22% 4.01% 13.50% 14.60%

Despite the lifespan of the Plan being ten years, it is anticipated the process of reviewing and renewing our Parish Plan will commence in 2020 so that the new plan can be finalised by 2022.

22 Appendix

A. Residents’ Views on Priorities for the Parish Plan

23 B. Attendance at Village Social Activities

24 C. Residents’ Wish List of Changes to the Star

25 D. Changes to Encourage Residents to Attend Church

F. Locations Where Roads Flood

26 E. Residents’ Views on Housing

27 Acknowledgements

The Steering Group

Name Role Work Groups Jorge Mendonça Chairman Housing Andrew Ogilvie Secretary Gas/Oil Purchase Scheme Iain Brown Treasurer Children’s Play Area Barry Jones Communications Traffic and Transport Angie Brown Member Traffic and Transport Jane Jackson Member Anthony Lee Member The Church Richard Ogden Member Questionnaire and The Star Eric Sawyer Member The Star Maia Sissons Member Housing Lisa Winterbourne Member

Work Groups

Work Group Members The Star Eric Sawyer, Richard Ogden, Graham Miles, Glen Winchester, Barbara Williams, Chris O’Gorman, Ed Vaizey and Dave Eyley. The Church Anthony Lee, Ruth Corfield and Victoria Saer. Children’s Play Area Iain Brown, Bob Bradley and Margaret Morton. Gas/Oil Purchase Scheme Andrew Ogilvie, Brian Harding, John Bales, Guy Macaulay and Graham Williams. Housing Jorge Mendonça, Barry Jackson, Maia Sissons, Terry Miller, Wendy Eyley and Jade Hannah. Snow and Ice Barry Jones, Angie Brown, Ian Lambourn, Matt Anns, Rob Hamilton and Tony Carter. Hedge and Verge Cutting Barry Jones, Paula Melville and John O’Gorman. Flooding in the Parish Barry Jones, Angie Brown, Pete Wiltshire, John Coe and Pete Rowland. Speeding and No Through Roads Barry Jones, Peter Sullivan, Louise Mendonça, Eileen Whalley and Norman Downie.

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